224. Three Gates of Hell
In an ethics class, the teacher gives a lesson about being truthful and respecting elders. The next day, all the students by heart this lesson and repeat it in class. But one student says he couldn't learn the lesson and the teacher gets angry at that student as it was an easy lesson. The student explains that he lied yesterday to protect his brother from the anger of elders. This story illustrates the difference between 'Knowing' and 'Being'. The following verses are one such example, they are very easy to understand but difficult to realise when we go through them. Krishna says, "Lust, anger and greed are three gates of hell leading to the destruction of self. Therefore, one should abandon all three (16.21). By turning away from these entrances to the realm of darkness, man does shreya (good to all) and thereby attains the supreme goal" (16.22). To understand something, it is important to understand its contrast -like day and night. On man